Energy Savings

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Making your home more energy efficient saves you money and is good for the planet. Local energy providers Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy have several programs that provide incentives for making changes that can help you save money in the long run.

Not sure where to start? Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program has created an excellent energy term guide.

Schedule a Home Energy Squad assessment

Xcel and CenterPoint programs and rebates

Both Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy offer a variety of rebates for home repairs and upgrades including:

LED Bulbs
Water heaters
Insulation and air sealing
Fireplaces
Clothes dryers

Saver's Switch

Saver's Switch is an Xcel Energy program for customers that agree cut back on the time your central air works to cool your home. Eligible participants will save 15 percent on your June - September electric energy charges.

Multi-Family Building Efficiency Program

Apartments with five or more units are eligible for a free whole building energy audit through the Multi-Family Building Efficiency Program and offers no-cost direct install of energy saving products, as well as bonus rebates of either 30 percent or 60 percent. If you live in an apartment, talk to your landlord or property owner about utilizing this program.

New Home Construction

Xcel Energy’s Efficient New Home Construction program provides incentives to builders that construct homes that exceed local energy code and baseline requirements for energy efficiency by at least 10 percent.

Home Energy Squad Audit

Home Energy Squad Audit– Sign up for a Home Energy Squad visit to learn how to save money and energy. Visits include a home energy audit and installation of energy saving materials, such as: LED light bulbs, weather stripping, programmable or smart thermostat, low flow water fixtures. Technicians will also:

Assess and adjust water heater temperature
Perform a blower door test to find air leaks
Complete and insulation inspection of your attic and walls using infrared camera

For a limited time, Home Energy Squad visits are free through May 2025.

Inflation Reduction Act Funding

Citizen Utility Board MN (CUB MN)

Financing

Business and Nonprofit Programs

Center for Energy and Environment programs

The Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) partners with the city help businesses improve their energy efficiency.

One-Stop Efficiency Shop: A full-service rebate program for small businesses looking to address lighting and HVAC efficiency.
Energy Savings Fund for Nonprofits: Funds to help finance energy-efficient projects by nonprofits.
Commercial Building Assessments: Provides energy consulting and assessments for large commercial buildings in Minnesota.
Commercial Refrigeration Program: Free, on-site refrigeration assessments to identify improvements to save energy and money; also offers rebates for energy-efficient upgrades.

Xcel Energy programs

Xcel Energy provides a wide variety of energy efficiency, expertise and rebate programs to help businesses manage and control energy usage.

LED rebates: Rebates for customers who switch to LED lighting.
Energy Efficient Buildings program: Free consultation program to incorporate energy efficient strategies into new construction, expansion, renovation or equipment projects.
Energy Design Assistance : Free comprehensive services to identify energy and cost-savings strategies for new construction or major renovations.

CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy’s natural gas equipment programs can lower energy use and help save money. Residential and small business customers can receive rebates for choosing high-efficiency natural gas equipment.

Enerchange

Non-profit organizations can get a free building energy audit through EnerChange. Energy consultants will provide:

An onsite walk through to identify energy saving opportunities
Rebate assistance
Financing options
Guidance to implement next steps
Energy reporting/tracking

For more information about Enerchange, email info@enerchange.org or 763-353-5555.

Additional efficiency, waste prevention and technical assistance programs

The Hennepin County Business Recycling Program offers grants, signage, technical assistance and research assistance to help start or improve recycling programs, reduce waste and donate usable goods.
Business Waste Prevention grants provide free resources and assistance for small businesses to start or improve recycling and organics collection programs. Grants of up to $3,000 are available.
Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a program that allows local governments to fund the up-front cost of energy improvements on commercial and residential properties. Property owners pay this funding back over time, which provides an incentive to invest in energy improvements that might otherwise be cost prohibitive.
Minnesota Waste Wise delivers strategic environmental consulting that helps businesses save money through waste reduction, resource conservation and energy efficiency. Becoming a member of Minnesota Waste Wise can help save money while protecting the environment.
Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTap) helps businesses implement industry-tailored solutions that prevent pollution at the source, maximize efficient use of resources and reduce energy use and costs to improve public health and the environment. MnTap provides focused assistance for air, energy, waste and water.
Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program RETAP has no-cost, non-regulatory energy efficiency and waste reduction assessments available to Minnesota's small businesses and public and private institutions. Assessments include an on-site visit with emphasis on finding opportunities to increase energy efficiency and water conservation, reduce waste and reduce operating costs.
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) is a great general resource for grants and other assistance as opportunities arise. They help with energy efficiency, renewables and other resource reduction programs.

Energy Assistance Program